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HARTFORD, Conn. – The New Hampshire Fisher Cats completed their season-opening series against the Hartford Yard Goats with a 4-2 win, sweeping the Goats and officially marking their best start in franchise history.
Unlike the first three games of the series, the ‘Cats couldn’t get any early runs, but they did once again get on the board first.
Those initial runs came during a three-run seventh, highlighted by a two-run shot by Cavan Biggio.
Hartford responded quickly clawing back two runs on Omar Carrizales’ two-out double, but that would be as close as they’d get, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. adding a solo shot to left center an inning later to seal New Hampshire’s victory.
New Hampshire ended the day with 10 hits, including multi-hit performances from Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Bo Bichette.
That much offense will generally win a game regardless of the pitching, but New Hampshire starter Sean Reid-Foley outshined the Fisher Cat bats, putting in six innings of work marred only by a Garrett Hampson leadoff bunt in the first.
Reid-Foley (1-0) ended the day with seven strikeouts and Dusty Issacs added three more during what was his first hold of the year. Andrew Case retired the final four Hartford batters to get his first save of the season.
Hartford starter Peter Lambert couldn’t match Reid-Foley’s performance, but submitted a respectable six innings of work, allowing five hits and a walk while striking out five New Hampshire batters.
The loss would go to Logan Cozart (0-1), allowing all four of New Hampshire’s runs and five runs during four innings of work over the series.
New Hampshire will look to continue their streak in Trenton on Monday night at 7 p.m. Jon Harris makes his season debut for the Fisher Cats against New York Yankee prospect Erik Swanson (1-0, 0.00 ERA).
